The hunt for Vic child killer 'Mr Cruel'

THE DECADES-LONG HUNT FOR THE MAN DUBBED MR CRUEL

MURDERED KARMEIN CHAN, 13

* Kidnapped from her Templestowe home on April 13, 1991

* Balaclava-clad man confronted Karmein and her two sisters while parents worked at Chinese restaurant in Eltham

* Sisters forced into a wardrobe

* Karmein's body found at Edgars Creek in Thomastown on April 9, 1992

* Died from gunshot wounds to the head

MR CRUEL'S OTHER CRIMES

* Police believe he is responsible for at least four child kidnappings and sexual assaults from 1987 to 1991

* Suspected of a dozen other attacks on adults

* Abducted Nicola Lynas, 13, in Canterbury July 3, 1990; released July 6, 1990

* Abducted Sharon Wills, 10, in Ringwood, December 27, 1988; released December 28, 1988

THE POLICE INVESTIGATION

* Checked more than 10,000 tips from public

* Searched 30,000 homes

* Interviewed 27,000 people

* Original investigation by Spectrum task force wound up in 1994

* Fresh covert taskforce Apollo established in April 2010 after new suspects emerged; wound up mid-2013

REWARD FOR INFORMATION

* Currently $300,000

* $100,000 Karmein reward tipped to rise to $1 million

* Reports $100,000 rewards over Sharon and Nicola abductions could also rise

* Would take total to $3m, largest ever offered in Australia.